Renewed clashes between farming communities and herders in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State have claimed at least 16 lives, local sources have confirmed.
The latest wave of violence, which occurred between May 12 and 14, affected Mungadosso, Bandawa, Wuro Guga villages, and the remote Fitowa bush. Eyewitnesses reported a cycle of reprisal attacks by both sides.
The initial assaults reportedly began in Mungadosso and Bandawa, where suspected herders launched three separate raids, leaving about 10 people dead and several homes destroyed by fire. Residents believe the attackers used a settlement in Wuro Guga via Jen as their operational base.
In what appeared to be a retaliatory move, armed youths from Mungadosso allegedly stormed Fitowa bush, approximately 20 kilometers away, on motorcycles and opened fire on herders grazing their livestock. Six herders were confirmed dead in the counterattack.
Local sources report that the situation remains highly tense, with many families fleeing their homes for fear of further violence. Reports also indicate that houses and huts were set ablaze in the aftermath.
The renewed violence is linked to longstanding tensions over land and water use, a recurring source of conflict between farmers and herders in the region.
Authorities have called for immediate de-escalation and dialogue to prevent further bloodshed. Local security patrols have reportedly been deployed to monitor known flashpoints.
